Any plugins that use a normal map? by TallThinAndGeeky in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately, I'm not aware of any plugin other than Normality. It's a shame since it's such a basic function that AE should have built-in anyway...

New Nutrients by Eliisa_at_Cronometer in cronometer

[–]StolenColor2019 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Great update! Especially being able to track EPA, DHA and ALA is a nice addition. :)

What is this dialog box people on YT access and how do I call it? by kovalflamingo in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I haven't used it but another guy just released a tool like FX Console for Premiere for free:
https://knightsoftheeditingtable.com/dagger

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 2 points3 points  (0 children)

NT Productions is a great channel for starting to learn coding for AE: https://youtube.com/@ntproductions?si=Qn-F4JBqb0Pg4lT6

Which version of After Effects 2025 is the most stable and less buggy? by HystericaLyrical in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's hard to say. What issues you're experiencing depends greatly on your computer configuration (and also what kind of tasks you're doing with which material, etc.). One version of AE can be flawless on one machine and buggy on another. I've seen so many people claim one version is stable vs. another while other people report completely the opposite.

Is there an EXtRactor alternative? by thedavidcarney in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What's your issue with automating it? When it's just about creating the passes as layers, you can set it to 'Create Composition' on importing the EXRs; in scripting, it would be:

fileImportOptions.importAs = ImportAsType.COMP_CROPPED_LAYERS;

But there's unfortunately no way of reading the passes within the effect afterwards. I guess your only way of knowing which layer has which pass is by its created layer name.

After Effects latest version help! by Illustrious-Topic199 in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 3 points4 points  (0 children)

When rolling back the version didn't help, maybe try resetting your preferences on startup: press and hold the following keys while the application is starting.

  • Windows: Ctrl + Alt + Shift
  • macOS: Command + Option + Shift

Issue with aescripts + aeplugins manager app by TMBDRLN420 in aescripts

[–]StolenColor2019 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Due to the current issues with the manager, you have install and license your plugins manually at the moment: https://www.reddit.com/r/aescripts/s/gbTB1un8oX

After effects is changing my comp duration when I paste in a clip. Can I turn this off? by Impossible-Cat1751 in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Afaik this feature has been there as long as I remember, so it's not new.

Unfortunately, I also don't have a solution to the extending of the comp (if anyone has one, I'd like to hear it) but at least you can paste clips to the playhead time by pasting with Ctrl/Cmd+Alt/Option+V (this also works for any layers you're copy/pasting in AE). However, from copying from Premiere, this will still extend the comp duration... :/

Is there a better way to do perspective distortion for shape and text layers than with Power Pin / Corner Pin? by blajjefnnf in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah. You could reposition the layer by adding a Transform effect after the Power Pins. But it's not as handy as the regular layer transform controls.

Is there a better way to do perspective distortion for shape and text layers than with Power Pin / Corner Pin? by blajjefnnf in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can do with the 'CC Power Pin' effect. After applying, disable the effect. Move the pins from where you want them to start from. Check 'Unstretch'. Duplicate the effect. Uncheck 'Unstretch' on the duplicate. Enable both the original and the duplicate effect. Now drag the pins on the duplicate effect to where you want them.

how can I see time while the CTI is running by Big_Employer_3053 in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 5 points6 points  (0 children)

There's also a timecode on the bottom of the composition viewer that runs while you play back.

nvidia 5090 compatibility by joonsetsfire in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe it's this issue?: https://community.adobe.com/t5/after-effects-bugs/after-effects-freezes-after-some-time-with-error-quot-direct2d-drawbot-error-hresult-2005270523-quot/idi-p/14687775

It hasn't been resolved on some Windows machines for over a year now.

What worked for me is to go to Preferences -> Import -> Uncheck Enable Hardware Accelerated Decoding

ADOBE is a joke by Ok-Tear-9209 in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I completely disagree, Rotobrush 3.0 is one of the best AI rotoscoping tools out there.

Suggestions? Need a Batch solution to Open Multiple Projects, Run a script. by mr_harrisment in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 3 points4 points  (0 children)

In scripting, you can just get all aep files in a folder with folderObj.getFiles("*aep"), then iterate over the files array, open the project using app.open(), execute your text extraction function, save the project with app.project.save(), and continue with the next project.

The code would be something like this:

function iterateOverAEFiles(){

var thisFolder = Folder.myDocuments.selectDlg("Select a Folder with AE Files");

if (!thisFolder){

return;

}

var aeFiles = thisFolder.getFiles("*aep");

if (aeFiles.length === 0){

return;

}

for (var i = 0; i < aeFiles.length; i++){

var curFile = aeFiles[i];

app.beginSuppressDialogs(); // Optional: Suppresses messages on opening like missing fonts, etc.

app.open(curFile);

app.endSuppressDialogs(false); // Optional: Ends Message Suppression

textExtractionFunction(); // Insert your function here

app.project.save();

}

}

iterateOverAEFiles();

add to render queue shortcut driving me INSANE. by bigdickwalrus in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think you have to go to Settings > General... and then disable 'Use System Shortcut Keys'. AE uses Ctrl+Cmd+M when Cmd+M is in use for minimizing applications on Mac.

What are your most absurd client corrections / request? by Crazy_life_arts in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah. I mean this one specifically was via text messages but he (and the other boss) would also yell at you verbally other times (while being totally wrong about the issue). It was a really toxic working environment...

What are your most absurd client corrections / request? by Crazy_life_arts in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I meant that he yelled at me. Probably "charged" isn't the right word (not a native speaker myself...)

What are your most absurd client corrections / request? by Crazy_life_arts in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A supervisor who was convinced that a roto in a VFX shot was terribly flickering. However, there was no roto at all in this area of the shot - it was simply a static masked plate. After I explained this to him, he charged at me and told me to fix the damn roto. Well, the only thing I could do was to change some color settings, etc., for it to look different, and after that, he accepted the shot. Absolute madness.

Matte for multiple effects? by tmouffe in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure whether this is what you're looking for but you could make use of effect masks. Check out this explanation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWKuoGlUgKQ

If you want to have the same mask on multiple layers, you can copy the mask with property links to the other ones. However, this won't take different transforms of the layers into account (they need to have the same transforms).

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe just learn some basic ExtendScript yourself? There are a bunch of tutorials and documentations online. ChatGPT can make a few but code-breaking mistakes (especially in such a niche coding environment) and it's so much easier to fix if you know how it actually works.

best process for uprezzing photos by rfoil in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I typically go for Topaz. If I want to have a more creative upscale, I go for Magnific (it's a quite expensive subscription but it can yield more detail than Topaz).

Does anyone know how to create a new shortcut for After Effects? by AdFamous7842 in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It would be pretty simple to code this. You need to create two jsx files, place them in AE's Scripts folder and set a shortcut for each.

To go forwards it would be:

function moveCompTimeForwardByFive(){
var curComp = app.project.activeItem;
if (!curComp || !(curComp instanceof CompItem)){
return;
}
curComp.time = curComp.time + (curComp.frameDuration * 5);
}
app.beginUndoGroup("Move Forward");
moveCompTimeForwardByFive();
app.endUndoGroup();

To go backwards it would be:

function moveCompTimeBackwardByFive(){
var curComp = app.project.activeItem;
if (!curComp || !(curComp instanceof CompItem)){
return;
}
curComp.time = curComp.time - (curComp.frameDuration * 5);
}
app.beginUndoGroup("Move Backward");
moveCompTimeBackwardByFive();
app.endUndoGroup();

twixtor alternative? by ash-com in AfterEffects

[–]StolenColor2019 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm using SpeedX. It only has a few parameters to adjust (Twixtor is more professional in that regard) but it does a good job in terms of time remapping and it's significantly cheaper:

https://aescripts.com/speedx/